The Department of History offers work leading to the Master of Arts
degree. The program is designed to introduce the student to historical
research and broad areas of historical studies. The requirements are highly
flexible. Programs of study can be arranged to serve as the basis for
further graduate study, to meet the immediate and changing needs of teachers
and other educators, and to prepare students for positions in industry,
business, and government.

Admission Requirements

Students selecting history as a graduate major should have completed
a minimum of 18 semester hours of undergraduate work in history and must
meet the minimum admission requirements of the School of Graduate Studies.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Arts degree in history may be earned by one of three plans
of study.

Thesis

HIST 500 Methods of Historical Research: 1 s.h.

Major field of study: 15 s.h.

Minor field of study: 6 s.h.

Electives: 3 s.h.

HIST 600 Thesis Research: 3 s.h.

HIST 601 Thesis: 3 s.h.

Courses taken to satisfy requirements 2-4 must include two research
seminars.TOTAL PROGRAM: 31 s.h.

Special Project

HIST 500 Methods of Historical Research: 1 s.h.

Major field of study: 15 s.h.

Minor field of study: 9 s.h.

Electives: 3-5 s.h.

HIST 599 Special Project: 4-6 s.h.

Courses taken to satisfy requirements 2-4 must include at least
one reading
seminar in the major field and two research seminars.TOTAL PROGRAM: 34 s.h.

General

HIST 500 Methods of Historical Research: 1 s.h.

Major field of study: 18 s.h.

Minor field of study: 9 s.h.

Electives: 9 s.h.

Courses taken to satisfy requirements 2-4 must include at least
one reading
seminar in the major field and two research seminars.TOTAL PROGRAM: 37 s.h.

An oral examination will be conducted following the completion of all
course work and requirements.

The major field of study will ordinarily be in United States history
or European history. It may be in another area if approved by the Graduate
Committee. The minor field of study may be in United States history, European
history, or non-Western history. It may also be in another related discipline
or disciplines with the approval of the Graduate Committee.

No more than 15 hours may be taken in extension courses, except in the
Quad Cities Graduate Center. Up to nine hours in a 32 semester hour program
may be transferred from another graduate school upon the approval of the
Departmental Graduate Committee. In no case shall the total of the extension
and transfer courses exceed 15 hours (except in Quad Cities extension
courses). All such hours are subject to the approval of the Graduate Committee.

Course Descriptions

400G Soviet Union, 1917-1991. (3) An intensive study
of political, diplomatic, economic, social, and cultural developments
in the Soviet Union from the Bolshevik revolution to the USSR’s
collapse. Prerequisite: HIST 126 or 399 or consent of instructor.

401G American Diplomatic History. (3) Foreign relations
with emphasis on the period from the war with Spain to the present, stressing
the behavior of the United States as a world power. Prerequisite:
Graduate standing, or permission of the instructor.

412G American Colonial History. (3) A history of the
discovery, settlement, and development of the American colonies to 1763.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing, or permission of the instructor.

413G American Revolution and the New Nation. (3) A study
of developments which caused the Revolution; examination of the War of
Independence, the Confederation, the federal Constitution, and subsequent
events to 1800. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, or permission of
the instructor.

414G Jeffersonian and Jacksonian Era, 1800-1850. (3) An
intensive study of the development of the United States as a nation from
1800 to 1850. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, or permission of the
instructor.

415G Civil War and Reconstruction. (3) The political,
social, economic, military, and diplomatic history of the period 1850-1877,
with emphasis on the war years, 1861-1865. Prerequisite: Graduate
standing, or permission of the instructor.

416G America in Transition, 1877-1914. (3) An examination
of the forces transforming America from Reconstruction to the Wilson administration.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing, or permission of the instructor.

418G Emergence of Modern America, 1914–1945. (3)
A study of American history from World War I to the end of World War II.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing, or permission of the instructor.

419G Recent America, 1945 to Present. (3) An examination
of American history from the end of World War II to the present. Prerequisite:
Graduate standing, or permission of the instructor.

421G Presidential Assassination and Political Murder in American
History. (3) A study of facts, myths, and controversies surrounding
the murder and attempted murder of presidents and political leaders, with
emphasis on the Kennedy assassination. Not open to students who have taken
HIST 115. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or HIST 105 or 106 or permission
of the instructor.

425G Renaissance and Reformation. (3) A study of the
political, economic, social, and cultural developments related to the
Renaissance, the Protestant Revolution, the Catholic Reformation, and
the ensuing religious wars. Prerequisite: HIST 125 or consent of the
instructor.

426G Age of Enlightenment. (3) A study of Europe from
the Peace of Westphalia to 1789. Prerequisite: Graduate standing,
HIST 125 and 126 or permission of the instructor.

427G French Revolution and Napoleon. (3) A detailed
examination of the period from 1789 to 1815 in Europe. Prerequisite:
Graduate standing, or permission of the instructor.

429G Europe, 1914-1968. (3) A study of Europe from 1914
to 1968. Prerequisite: Hist 126 or consent of instructor.

430G Topics in Ancient History. (3) Study of a theme
or chronological period in Greek or Roman History. Topics will vary. Repeatable
to six hours with permission of Departmental Graduate Committee. Prerequisite:
Graduate standing, or permission of the instructor.

438G Germany Under Hitler: The Nazi Dictatorship. (3) National
Socialism in Germany from Adolf Hitler to the Nuremberg Trials. Prerequisite:
Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

444G Topics in Middle Eastern History. (3, repeatable to 6 with
permission of department chairperson) Selected topics in the
political, social, economic, and intellectual history of the Middle East.
Topics may vary. Prerequisite: HIST 344 or consent of instructor.

494G Internship. (1–12, repeatable) Supervised
experience of work in archives, historical institutions, or other institutions
requiring historical experience. May be repeated, but only three semester
hours of credit will be applied to the minimum program requirement of
31 hours. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, or permission of the instructor.

500 Introduction to Historical Methods. (1) Introduction
to resources and methods of historical research and writing. Prerequisite:
Graduate standing, or permission of the instructor.

510* Research Seminar in U.S. History. (3) A research-centered
investigation of selected topics in American history, with special attention
to application of methods of research, critical analysis, and writing.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing, HIST 500 as prerequisite/corequisite,
or permission of the instructor.

511* Readings Seminar in U.S. History. (3) A readings-centered
investigation of selected topics in American history, with attention to
historiographic issues. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, or permission
of the instructor.

512* Research Seminar in Diplomatic History. (3) A research-centered
investigation of selected topics in diplomatic history, with special attention
to application of methods of research, critical analysis, and writing.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing, HIST 500 as prerequisite/corequisite,
or permission of the instructor.

513* Readings Seminar in Diplomatic History. (3) A readings-centered
investigation of selected topics in diplomatic history, with attention
to historiographic issues. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, or permission
of the instructor.

515* Readings Seminar in Military History. (3) A readings-centered
investigation of selected topics in military history, with attention to
historiographic issues. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission
of the instructor.

530* Research Seminar in World History. (3) A research-centered
investigation of selected topics in world history, with special attention
to application of methods of research, critical analysis, and writing.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing, HIST 500 as prerequisite/corequisite,
or permission of the instructor.

531* Readings Seminar in World History. (3) A readings-centered
investigation of selected topics in world history, with attention to historiographic
issues. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, or permission of the instructor.

540* Research Seminar in European History. (3) A research-centered
investigation of selected topics in European history, with special attention
to application of methods of research, critical analysis, and writing.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing, HIST 500 as prerequisite/corequisite,
or permission of the instructor.

541* Readings Seminar in European History. (3) A readings-centered
investigation of selected topics in European history, with attention to
historiographic issues. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission
of the instructor.

598 Readings in History. (1–6, repeatable) Individual
reading. May be repeated, but a maximum of six hours will be counted toward
degree requirements. Prerequisites: Graduate standing and six semester
hours in history.

599 Special Problems in History. (1–6, repeatable)
Intensive research into areas of history not specifically covered in other
courses. Credit will depend on the nature of the historical problem to
be examined and the length of time required to complete the project. May
be repeated, although no more than six hours may count toward a degree.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing, six semester hours in history, and
approval by the Departmental Graduate Committee.

600 Thesis Research. (1–6, repeatable) May be
repeated, but only three semester hours will count toward degree requirements.
Prerequisites: HIST 500 or501 and approval of the thesis prospectus.

601 Thesis in History. (3) Prerequisite: HIST 600.

*These courses may be repeated with the permission of the Department
of History Graduate Committee, since different topics will usually be
presented with each offering.